Hello 2014! Big December gives way to big January!

$53 million won in last month; $17 million so far in 2014

INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 10, 2014) Hoosier Lottery players are kicking off the year with a bang! In just the first nine days of January, players won prizes totaling more than $17 million and have laid claim to some sizable wins including $5 million, $3 million, $1 million, $125,000 and $100,000!

These big 2014 wins come on the heels of a big December that saw a number of Hoosiers win significant Hoosier Lottery prizes. Players won more than $35 million in prizes the last two weeks of December.

In total, in a month's time, from Dec. 10 to Jan. 10, Hoosier Lottery players have won more than $53 million in prizes!

Notable winners in the last 30 days include:

$5 million - Seth Collins of Greencastle claimed a $5 million prize on the $100 Million Cash Extravaganza scratch-off game January 3. The seventy-something man thought the win might finally be the motivation he and his wife needed to quit their full-time jobs at a nursing home cafeteria. "We'll probably put our two-weeks notice in," said Collins. The father of 10, grandfather of 26 and great-grandfather of 45 purchased his winning ticket at Speedway on Indianapolis Road in Greencastle.

$5,000 a week for life - Dennis Fahnstock of Indianapolis is in the money now that he snagged a top prize on the Cash for Life Scratch-off. Fahnstock had his choice of $5,000 a week, every week for life (guaranteed at least twenty years of payments) or $3 million instantly. Fahnstock opted for the cash over the long-term security when he claimed his prize January 7. He purchased his winning ticket at Brookville Road Shell in Indianapolis.

$2 million - William Farabee of Bluffton was already having a good week and had just received his Christmas bonus at work when he purchased a $2 million winning 100 X the Cash Scratch-off at Airplane Express on North Main Street in Bluffton Dec. 19. The welding supervisor says he plans to buy a house and considers the win "a game changer" but he plans continue working every day. The Wells County man believes it is no coincidence that he wished for some extra holiday money when he blew out the candles on his birthday cake just a few days before his $2 million win.

$1 million - Shawnda Brewer of Indianapolis braved the snowstorm of the decade to claim her $1 million scratch-off prize at Hoosier Lottery headquarters Jan. 7. She claimed the last $1 million prize available on the $100 Million Cash Extravaganza game, a popular and long-running game that paid out $100 million in prizes over the life of the game. Brewer purchased her lucky ticket at Speedway at 6201 N. Keystone Ave in Indianapolis.

$238,074 - Uniqueka Dorsey of Michigan City is living proof that the Lucky Stop retailer on Franklin St. in Michigan City is indeed a lucky stop. Dorsey won $238,074 on a Cash 5 ticket she purchased at the lucky store on Dec. 17. Dorsey matched all five numbers: 02-06-13-14-39. The LaPorte County woman is just the latest in a string of big winners at one of the state's highest volume retailers.

$200,000 - Stacey Blake of Indianapolis struck year-end gold at McClure Oil on Rockville Road in Indianapolis when she scratched off a money bag symbol on her Gold Rush Scratch-off - a feat worth $200,000! The Gold Rush game launched Dec. 3, 2013. Five top prizes of $125,000 are unclaimed at this time.

$125,000 - Brittany Radcliffe of Westville , another LaPorte County winner, claimed a top prize on the $125,000 Year End Bonus Scratch-off game Jan. 8. The young woman is expecting her first child in two weeks and says the experience of stumbling into such a windfall at such a momentous time in her life "is breathtaking!" The mother-to-be plans to put money down on a house and buy a car with her winnings. She purchased her winning ticket at Family Express on Hwy 6 in Westville.

$100,000 - James Helbert of Churubusco was "shocked! Just shocked!" to find himself at Hoosier Lottery headquarters claiming a $100,000 prize Jan. 8. The Whitley County said "I'm going to treat my kids and probably pay off the house." He purchased his winning Indiana Slots ticket at Lassus Handy Dandy on Main Street in Churubusco using part of $50 in winnings he received on a 20X The Money Scratch-off purchased at the same store.

Profits from the Hoosier Lottery benefit police and firefighter pensions, which receive $30 million each year, and teachers retirement fund, which also receives $30 million each year. All other profit goes toward a reduction in vehicle excise taxes paid by Hoosiers. In FY 2012, vehicle excise taxes were reduced by 50 percent through a contribution of $147 million to the Build Indiana Fund. Since the Hoosier Lottery's inception in 1989, through April 30, 2013, the Hoosier Lottery has contributed $517.2 million to police and firefighter pension funds, $705.1 million to teachers retirement, and $3 billion to the Build Indiana Fund. Retailers have earned $1 billion in commissions during that time. In addition, Hoosier Lottery players have won $9.2 billion and retailers have earned $1 billion in commissions and bonuses.

The Hoosier Lottery reminds all players to play responsibly. Must be 18 or older to play. Gambling Addiction Referral Line: 800-994-8448.

ABOUT THE HOOSIER LOTTERY: Hoosier Lottery distributions benefit every county throughout Indiana. Each fiscal year, the Hoosier Lottery contributes $30 million to local police and firefighters' pensions, and $30 million to the Teacher's Retirement Fund. In fiscal year 2012, $147.6 million in Hoosier Lottery earnings helped reduce motor vehicle excise taxes by 50 percent.

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